Bridgehampton Historical Society’s Parlor Jazz Series: Concert III

Bridghampton - The Bridgehampton Historical Society's popular Parlor Jazz Series will host its third concert on Friday, December 2, at 7 p.m. The Art of Song's Jane Hastay and Peter Martin Weiss will be joined by vocalist, Darcey, and trumpeter, Dick Behrke.

Vocalist, composer, arranger, poet and educator Darcey is celebrating her 35th year on her creative journey. As a young singer, she was the house vocalist at Gurney's Inn for five years. During that time she performed for celebrities Halston, Dick Cavett, Cheryl Tiegs, Peter Beard, Lauren Hutton, Bill Murray and Martin Scorsese. Since then, Darcey has performed in New York, Canada, Mexico, Atlantic City and Washington, DC.

Her first release in 1999 was a Holiday Jazz CD, "My Favorite Present" which included three original holiday songs. "SoulShadows," a Vocal/ Guitar eclectic mix, followed in 2008. Darcey's soon-to-be-released third CD, "I Hear Music," was recorded live at the Westhampton Beach Performing Arts Center.

For her work with her own company, Love Sent Singing Phonegrams, Darcey gathers tidbits of information about a recipient, then creates a personalized poem and picks the most appropriate song for that occasion. The resulting Phonegram always results in a mixture of tears, laughter and smiles across the wires.

Darcey studied music at Five Towns College and also at the Singers Forum in NYC. Her practice as a music educator includes "A Jazz Journey," an interactive program for children where they learn about the history, sound and feel of Jazz. She also leads "Performing From the Heart," a vocal and performance master class for girls, and Music Together, an Internationally recognized early childhood music program.

Behrke attended The Bronx High School of Science with Bobby Darin, beginning a long, loyal friendship. They were in a band together, went on to attend Hunter College, and share an apartment in New York during lean and hungry times. Later on Behrke became Bobby's pianist, conductor and arranger. Dick's outstanding work can be heard on the "Darin at the Copa" LP and on the Atco singles "Artificial Flowers" and "Lazy River." Dick was also Bobby's best man when he married Sandra Dee in 1960.

Dick's impressive career as a musician, conductor, and award-winning creator of music for TV, radio and industrial film commercials included working with Mel Tormé, Tony Bennett, Sammy Davis, Jr., Lena Horne, Ray Charles, Ray Bolger, Wayne Newton, Eubie Blake, Gregory Hines and Patti Austin. Dick recorded two singles for Barry Manilow, "Somewhere In the Night," and "Ready to Take a Chance Again," the theme from the movie "Foul Play." In 1989, Frank Sinatra took Behrke's Pan Am jingle, adding lyrics by Sammy Cahn, and recorded it as a single, "Just Say Hello." Dick has won many awards, including six Clios (ad industry's Oscar) and English Ad Council's Best Song. Today he lives on Shelter Island with his beautiful wife Mickey, and is having a joyful time playing jazz trumpet.

All concerts start at 7 p.m. and run approximately 75 minutes, with an admission of $25 per person, $10 for members, and children under 12 free. Online ticket purchasing is available through the BHHS website. BHHS is grateful for its generous sponsors, without which this Series would not be possible.

The BHHS Archives Building is conveniently located at the southeastern end of Bridgehampton's Main Street, just beyond the monument, and has ample parking. For more information click below or call 631-537-1088, bhhs@optonline.net.